Feliz Cumpleanos to me!

 Happy Birthday to me!

Honestly, being 34 years old is great!

One year older and wiser, too!

 Instead of a cake this year I wanted a fruit tart and it was truly

FABULOUS!!!!

It reminded me of my time in Paris.

(sigh)

It was great to get out with The Ladies!

(including an amazing apple pie)

Thanks for a fabulous day!

Love you all!

Scooters, broken legs and fireworks...

...can only mean one thing...

Happy Independence Day from our family!

Our day started out like most other summer Mondays at our house:

 Scooter happiness and joy!

 Big smiles all around!  (0:

10 minutes later there was a minor crash

and...

Rachel hurt her leg.  She kept saying "Take me to the doctor!  Take me to the doctor!  Take me to the doctor!".

So I iced her leg for half an hour and let her calm down.

Then we trucked over to the ER.

Maybe I should let you know...

We live in a 2nd floor aparment.

So, I carried my 8-year-old up (iced her leg), then down the stairs,

walked past the other apartments to the parking lot,

then finally found my van.

THEN we trucked over to the ER...

 Entertaining themselves...

 So, Ms Rachel broke both her Tibia and Fibula.

(This picture makes me laugh.  Rach was pretty happy most of the time, but Richard held up the picture to her face and she scowled!)

Rachel started with a splint below her knee which worked ok for the first few minutes.

(notice the happy face)

But after an afternoon of excruciating pain, she was given a wonderful Priesthood blessing that helped her finally calm down and sleep.

(I am so grateful for the power of the Priesthood!)

Richard and I decided to take her back to the ER the next morning to get a longer splint.

They sent us over to the orthopedist who agreed that she should have been splinted higher.

MUCH, much better!!

Richard was always taught to splint the joint above and below, why these guys didn't do it at first, who knows?

On Independence Day we went to that Ward Breakfast and kids parade.

 Thanks to the Hebertsons for the wagon!

 Go Sarah Go!

 Thanks Daddy!

 Emma and Carver enjoying the morning.

 Fun to get together and celebrate!  (0:

For FIREWORKS that evening we went to Richard's office.

He works on the 31st floor of a building overlooking a river they do HUGE fireworks..

While we waited for them to start,we played Skip-Bo in the waiting room.

We were SO HAPPY to have the Tanise and Kaia Colvin come down and visit for a few days!

And they are quite the Card Sharks!!!!!!!!

But we love them anyway!  (0:

(this is a picture of Tanise laying down her winning 4)

God Bless America,

Land that I love.

Stand Beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the Mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam.

God bless America, My home sweet home.

 Thank you Heavenly Father, for this choice land!

Dr. Richard Ruff~ Graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic

~After 12 years of marriage~
~A few more than 4 years of Bachelor degree work~
~3 1/3 years of Graduate School~

~10 trimesters of hard, hard work~

~Thousands of hours of studying~

~5 VERY intense (and expensive) National Board Exams~

~Over 200 adjustments~

~Working with amazing Staff Doctors~

~Too many exams and practicals~

~Spending too many hours staring at bones~
~A memorable Coating Ceremony~

~Attending some amazing NUCCA conferences~

~So many early morning Radiology classes~

~A running of the Bix7~

~Serving and helping the people of the island of Bequia~

~Precepting with an amazing doctor~

****Richard Ruff is now a DOCTOR****

Here is a journey through our graduation experience!

The night before graduation there was a dinner to celebrate, 

so we joined our friends Levi and Karla Nelson for a fun evening out!

Graduation took place in Lyceum Hall (Vickie Ann Palmer Hall). 

 Processional into the auditorium with bagpipes.

(the girls thought that was really awesome!)

Richard enjoying the speakers.

Sweet tired Emma 

Slept through most of the ceremony until Richard walked.

So grateful to have Aunt Marianne to hold her.

Dr. Marchiori, chancellor, addressing the graduates.

 Waiting for his name to be called up to receive his diploma.

:0)

 Congrats graduate!!!

  You did it!

 Richard taking the Chiropractic Oath!

 Presenting

THE DOCTORS!!!

 Great job, Richard!

We love you so very much.

We are so proud of you!

Dr. and Mrs Ruff!!!!

 We had to pose with a few pix with Tanise and Kamari Colvin.  We love you guys!

Dr. Richard Ruff and Dr. Jordan Merrill (or BM- Brother Merrill).     Dr. Richard Ruff and Dr. Tim Sullivan

 Thank you so much for all you do for our family, Joy & Lynn!

Your support and love have been such a blessing!

 So grateful to have Aunt Marianne and Uncle Brian, too!  (0:

 Mom, thank you for your love for my wonderful husband!

 Sarah had to catch a quick drink while we were doing pictures!

Me & Richard,

Rachel (8 yrs), Sarah (9 yrs) and Emma (6 yrs)

 Congratulations Dr Richard Ruff!

We love you and are so proud of you!

It has been a long road, but worth every second.

Farewell to Our Nauvoo!

For almost 3 1/2 years, we lived in the

Nauvoo Temple

district.  We were so blessed to visit every month,

in rain and snow and Midwest heat!

For our last visit we wanted to do something special, so we rented a room right across the street and spent time walking the streets and visiting the shops where pioneers lived and worked.

 Quick pictures with the girls from our balcony.  Beautiful view!

Rachel (age 8), Sarah (age 9) and Emma (age 6)

 I am so grateful to be in Nauvoo with my sweetheart, Richard.

I love you so much!  What a blessing to have shared this wonderful time and place with you!

It's fun to see how these girls have grown since we moved to the Midwest!

We had to do a family self-portrait in front of the temple!

 

We had to do a wagon ride for old time sake (may flies and all)!

Thank you for all the wonderful memories!

 ~I had to take the time for some pictures of this lovely place.~

 Thank you to all the amazing missionaries who serve in the temple and teach in Nauvoo, IL.

We have loved sharing our time with you.

Thank you to the Pioneers who gave so much!

Thank you Joseph Smith and many others for your courage and sacrifice to Restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ for each of us.
And thank you most of all to our Savior Jesus Christ.  For your gospel, your love and sacrifice for me personally.  I am grateful every day for you.

 Nauvoo, City Beautiful

You are forever in our hearts!